Manon Mirabelli photoMary Ann Dennis, a member of the Greater Westfield Chamber of Commerce, takes pancakes off the grill during the chamber's 35th annual pancake breakfast on the front lawn of South Middle School.

Kate E. Phelon, the chamber’s executive director, said the organization’s “spark plug committee” was on site at the breakfast’s new location on the front lawn of South Middle School on Silver Street mixing pancake batter at 6 a.m. in preparation of the four-hour event from 7 a.m. until 11 a.m.

“It’s always the second Thursday in July, and originally it was on the green,” she said, referring to downtown’s Park Square. “We moved it here this year, and this venue is just great. There’s plenty of room, parking and shade.”

Another benefit, Phelon added, is having the opportunity to use the school’s kitchen facility to keep ingredients, such as butter – lots of butter, and maple syrup – lots of maple syrup, easily refrigerated.

“This is great because we can use the school kitchen,” she said.

In addition to the breakfast being served, vendors were also on site at tables arranged on the school’s shaded front sidewalk. Jewelry, apparel, pet goods and newspaper subscriptions were just some of the sales being made. Mascots from the Springfield Falcons hockey and Armor basketball teams were also in attendance.

While all the usual officials such as Mayor Daniel M. Knapik, his brother, state Sen. Michael R. Knapik, R-Westfield, and state Rep. Donald F. Humason Jr., R-Westfield, were on hand dining on a hot breakfast prepared by chamber and guest griddle masters, the true beauty of the event, Phelon said, is the way it brings the community together and raises money for programs that support Westfield business.

Ten-year-old Avery St. Pierre, a student at Papermill Elementary School, enjoyed his pancake breakfast sitting on a sidewalk on the school’s front lawn.

“I like getting to share time with all my friends, and the pancakes are good,” he said.

All of the food was donated for the event by Sodexo food services from Westfield State University, and all the breakfast sausages were prepared by Cathy Gendreau, owner of Peppermill Catering.

One guest cook manning a grill was Westfield State University President Evan S. Dobelle, aided by his executive assistant, Nanci Salvidio.

Dobelle said he now knows when to flip a pancake. “I’ve also learned how hard this work is,” he said. “I can’t imagine doing this eight hours a day.”